Quantum metering, mixing, and dispensing machine and process



April 2; 1963 A. J. DEVINE ETAL 3,083,878

QUANTUM METERING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed March 21, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Aer/ran J. asw/vt ADO/V1910 1 7804184 44 April 2, 1963 A. J. DEVlNE ETAL 3,083,878

QUANTUM METERING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed March 21, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIZ ATT AFIMSVG A ril 2, 1963 A. J. DEVINE ETAL 3,033,878

QUANTUM METERING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed March 21, 1960 T Sheets-Sheet 4 ,2o a J ||l|n|| 22c 3i F 236 J 4 JOG\ i '1 ]///6 (Em) (km/ za 30 a JNVENTORS 5 O Q 0 0 023x22. $5222 Ma 4 PM&(,

ATTOR/VE'YJ April 2, 1963 A. J. DEVINE ETAL 3,033,378

QUANTUM METERING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed March 21, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORJ Jar/I01? J. air/wt A rrolgzvsn's 3,083,878 QUANTUM METERING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed March 21, 1960 April 2, 1963 A. J. DEVINE ETAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 LLE ART/I019 a: OOIVAIO 5. TPVMUL Gaain Pwuu April 2, 1963 A. J. DEVINE ETAL 3,083,878

QUANTUM METERING, MIXING, AND DISPENSING MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed March 21, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Y 5: 5 mm M mu m we P H 2 a Z Unite States This invention relates to the mechanical arts. More particularly, it relates to a machine for preparing and dispensing on demand a predetermined quantum of composition from at least two pumpable components.

Numerous chemical compositions have been developed, which are useful as adhesives, sealing and caulking compounds and as potting compounds, and which are characterized by a polymeric and the like chemical component. These chemical compositions are usually prepared by mixing together a monomeric resin and the like component with a second component generally identified as a catalyst, accelerator, hardener, or curing agent. In some instances additional components such as fillers, pigments, and the like may also be included in the mix. Generally, the components are supplied as pumpable, substantially incompressible liquids, liquid suspensions and solutions.

The accelerator component in such compositions causes the monomeric resin and the like component to polymerize and cross link or cure. In many of these compositions the rate of polymerization, cross linking or curing can be controlled by the appropriate selection of the accelerator component. While in many uses of these compositions the polymerization and cure time can be rather lengthy, there are numerous other applications wherein it is desired to have as rapid a polymerization and cure time as possible. This is especially true when the composition is being used in an assembly line type of operation such as might be encountered, for instance, in the manufacture of electrical resistors. On the other hand, under such conditions, because of the rapid polymerization and cure time involved, large quantities of the composition cannot be prepared and stored at prevailing temperatures, especially if the quantity of composition dispensed at any one time is quite small. Otherwise, before the batch of composition has been dispensed, it will have polymerized and cured and no longer be dispensable and useable. Yet, generally speaking, it has not heretofore been practical to prepare such chemical compositions other than on a batch basis and in relatively large quantir ties. In such instances, it is usually necessary to employ expensive refrigeration equipment, to hold the compositions at sufficiently low temperatures to drastically depress the rate of polymerization and cure. Not only is there a problem here of additional equipment, but also there may be a problem of dispensing an excessively viscous composition which would be more fluid at higher temperatures.

Generally speaking, it is necessary in preparing such compositions that the components be mixed together in rather precise proportions relative to each other. Moreover, there are a number of industrial processes which require successive dispensing of uniform and discrete quantities of composition at regularly spaced apart intervals. Furthermore, the components in many instances may involve noxious and even toxic vapors, volatile solvents, and be adversely aifected by the presence of air.

There is a need, therefore, for ways and means for preparing and dispensing automatically on demand small quantities or quanta of such compositions, which are uniform in size and concentration, and to do so on an economical, safe, and practical basis. An object of this invention is to supply this need.

atent ice A general object of this invention is to provide ways and means for preparing and dispensing automatically on demand a predetermined quantity or quantum of such composition.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a machine in which the components of the chemical composition are automatically mixed in preselected proportion to one another and in pre-selected quantities to give a predetermined quantum of composition.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine which will prepare and dispense automatically on demand a predetermined quantum of composition without having a large inventory of composition within the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for preparing quanta of composition, wherein components may be stored and mixed and composition dispensed without loss of solvent in the machine, without exposing operating personnel to noxious and toxic fumes and without entraining air into the components and composition.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine for preparing and dispensing automatically on demand a predetermined quantum of composition, which has a relatively simple construction and which can readily be dismantled and assembled for cleaning and maintenance.

These and other objects which may appear as this speci fication proceeds are achieved by this invention.

in general, this invention involves both method and apparatus aspects.

In the method aspect of this invention there is employed the broad concept of separately and simultaneously introducing the components in a pro-selected volumetric ratio and in individual volumes pro-selected to give the predetermined, discrete quantum of composition into one end of a confined mixing space filled with said composition and said components in said pre-selected volumetric ratio and having at the other end an outlet, while admixing in said mixing space said components during their flow therethrough. As a result of these steps the predetermined, discrete quantum of composition is automatically displaced from the mixing space through the outlet thereof.

Another method concept of this invention is to perform the separate and simultaneous introduction into the confined mixing space of the components in the preselected volumetric ratio and in volumes pre-selected to give the predetermined, discrete quantum of composition by filling separate, confined, metering spaces for each of said components and then simultaneously displacing components in said volumetric ratio and volumes from said metering spaces into said mixing space. Thus, separate displacement of the pro-selected volume or slug of each component from the metering space therefor into the mixing space automatically results in the dispensing of the predetermined, discrete quantum of composition.

In the apparatus concept of this invention there is provided a machine for automatically preparing and dispensin g on demand a predetermined, discrete quantum of composition from at least two, pumpable, substantially incompressible, components thereof. This machine broadly comprises component meter and valve means for each of the components, component mixing means, composition dispensing means and machine control means which simultaneously actuate said component meter and valve means and said component mixing means, and which control the component metering in the machine and quantum of composition dispensed.

In the more specific aspects of this invention the component meter and valve means are constructed to meter each component by application of the displacement principle. This principle is to the effect that when an object is immersed in liquid a portion of the liquid equal in volume to the volume of the object in the liquid will be displaced. In a preferred embodiment of this machine the structures of the component meter and valve means, the component mixing means and the composition dispensing means are such that displacement forces induced in each component meter and valve means are utilized to impel pre-selected volumes of components from their corresponding component meter and valve means into the component mixing means and to discharge through the dispensing means a quantum of composition.

These and other concepts are present in the specific embodiment of this invention illustrated in the drawings and described in detail hereinafter. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the machine of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the machine control means of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning planes 3-3 of FIG. 1, but at the conclusion of the component metering phase of the operation cycle of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a portion of the component meter and valve means structure and of pertinent control means structure of the machine of FIG. 1, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning plane 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear sectional view of a portion of the cornponent meter and valve means structure and of pertinent control means structure of the machine in FIG. 1, which view has been taken as though along the sectioning planes 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of the stop-start mechanism of the machine control means structure of the machine of FIG. 1, which portion is depicted in stop or idle position;

FIG. 7 illustrates the structure of FIG. 6 in start position;

FIG. 8 illustrates the structure of FIG. 6 at the end of the component metering phase in the cycle of operation of the machine;

FIG. 9 is a vertical, side, sectional view of the component mixing means structure, a portion of the composition dispensing means structure and one of the component meter and valve means structure of the machine of FIG. 1; said View being taken as indicated by the sectioning planes 99 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the structures of FIG. 9, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning planes Ill-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken of a valve structure in each of the component passageways between the component meter and valve means structure and the component mixing means structure, which View has been taken as indicated by the sectioning plane 11-41 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the component mixing means housing structure of the machine of FIG. 1, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning plane 12-12 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a partially sectioned plan view of the top portion of the component mixing means rotor structure within the housing structure, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning plane 1313 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is another partially sectioned plan view of a lower portion of the component means rotor structure within the housing structure, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning plane 1414 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a partially sectioned, plan view of the end portion of the component means rotor structure within the housing structure, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning plane 15-15 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 16 is another horizontal cross sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning plane 1616 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 17 is a rear view of the major portion of the quantum size selector assembly involved in the machine control means structure of the machine in FIG, 1; and

FIG. 18 is a horizontal sectional view of the quantum size selector assembly of FIG. 17, which view has been taken as indicated by the sectioning plane 18-18 of FIG. 17.

Machine Structure In greater detail, the drawings disclose a machine 20 for metering separately and mixing components and for dispensing on demand quanta of composition. The machine 20 comprises the combination of a number of structural assemblies. These assemblies are: a support assembly 22 (FIGS. 1 and 3), a first component supply assembly 24 (FIG. 1), a second component supply assembly 26 (FIG. 1), a first component meter and valve assembly 28 (FIG. 3), a second component meter and valve assembly 30 (FIGS. 5 and 9), a mixer assembly 32 (FIGS. 1 and 9), a mixer motor assembly 34 (FIGS. 1 and 5), and a machine control assembly 36 (FIGS. 28).

The support assembly 22, shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3, comprises a base 40 and a panel 42. The base 40 is a plate normally horizontally disposed on a table, rack and the like. The panel 42 is normally vertically disposed and mounted on the base 40 adjacent the front edge thereof. The panel 42 is in the form of a channel with the legs or sides thereof facing rearwardly. The mixer assembly 32 and the mixer motor assembly 34 are mounted on the front side or face of the panel 42. The component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 30 and the machine control assembly 36 are mounted on the back side of the panel 42. T he first and second component supply assemblies 24 and 26 are mounted behind the panel 42 on the base 40.

Each of the component supply assemblies 24 and 26, shown in FIG. 1, comprises an upright component storage tank 44- and a supply conduit 46. The supply conduit 46 is coupled at one end to a suitable outlet in the region of the bottom end of the storage tank 44 and at the other end (see FIG. 3) to an infe'ed conduit of the corresponding component meter and valve assembly. Preferably, the supply conduit 46 comprises a manually manipulated, component flow shut-off valve 48 for stopping when desired the flow of component through the supply conduit 46 into the corresponding component meter and valve assembly.

The first and second component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 30 are arranged side by side in the machine 20. There is one assembly for each component and the structure of each meter and valve assembly is essentially the same. Hence, the structure will be described with reference to the first component meter and valve assembly 28.

The-first component meter and valve assembly 28, as best shown in FIG. 9, has two inter-related sections, a valve section 56 and a meter section 52.

The valve section 50 comprises, see FIG. 9, a block member 54, an infeed conduit member 56, a coupling ring 58, a directional valve rod 60, packing 62, a packing retainer and leakage accumulator 64, a seal seat 66, an upper seal 68, bushing 70, lower seal 72, and a check valve 74.

The block member 54- is mounted on the back side of the panel 42 by means of suitable tie bolts therethrough and retainer nuts in threaded engagement with the bolts. The block member 54 has a round, central hole 76 therethrough extending from the top side to the bottom side thereof on a generally vertical axis. In the central region of the block member 54 there is a generally horizontal meter flow passageway 78 extending backwardly from the hole 76 to the back side of the block member 54. Spacedly above the opening of the passageway 78, the hole 76 has an inwardly extending, annular step portion 80 with a further inwardly extending annular flange 82 at the top thereof. Below the annular flange 82 and on the inside circumference of the annular step portion 8%, there is a lateral inlet opening 84 into a passageway 86. The passageway is horizontally disposed in the block member, extending from the inlet 84 to an outlet 83 in the front face of the block member 54 (see FIG. 10'), which face is adjacent the back side of the panel 42.

The infeed conduit member 56 curves downwardly and backwardly from the block member 54. See FIG. 3. The bottom end thereof is coupled by conventional means to a corresponding component supply conduit 46. The upper end portion of the infeed conduit member 56 is seated within the central hole 76 through the block member 54. Below the block member 54 the infeed conduit member 56 has an outwardly extending annular flange portion 90 which is seated in an annular recess in the coupling ring 58. By means of retainer screws disposed through suitable holes in the coupling ring 58 and suitable threaded holes in the bottom of the block member 54, the coupling ring 58 functions to establish and maintain the upper end portion of the infeed conduit member 56 coupled to the block member 54. At the upper end of the infeed conduit member 56 there is an inwardly extending annular flange 92 which functions as a bottom seal seat.

The directional valve rod 60 is normally vertically disposed in coaxial alignment with the axis of the central hole 76 through the block member 54, and is moveable along said axis. The directional valve rod 69 is characterized by an annular recess 94 in the region of its bottom end but spaced therefrom. The annular recess 94, under normal operative conditions, functions to permit the flow of component and hence can be referred to as the flow section 94 of the directional valve rod 69. The directional valve rod 66 above and below the annular recess 94, under normal operative conditions and in combination with other structure functions to block flow of component. Hence, the portion 96 of the directional valve rod 60 below the annular recess 94 can be regarded as the infeed flow block section 96 and the portion of the directional valve rod 60 above the annular recess 94 can be regarded as a meter flow block section 98.

The directional valve rod 613 extends upwardly from, and out of the central hole 76 of, the block member 54. To prevent leakage of component along the valve rod 61) from the block member 54 the packing 62 is provided about the valve rod 60 between the top of the annular flange 82 at the top of the annular step portion of the central hole 76 and the top side of the block member 54. The packing 62 is held in place by means of the packing retainer and leakage accumulator 64 in threaded engagement with the wall of the central hole 76 above the packing 62. It will be noted that the inner wall 99 of the retainer forms with rod 60 an annular well for accumulating any component material which should happen to leak upwardly along rod 60.

The seal seat 66 is a ring member disposed underneath but adjacent the annular overhead shoulder formed by the bottom of the annular step portion 80. The upper seal 68, a sealing ring, is disposed underneath the seal seat 66. Underneath the upper seal 68 is disposed the bushing 70.

The bushing 7 0 has inwardly extending top and bottom flanges which provide support for the upper and lower seals 68 and 72. Laterally, it has an opening 191) corresponding to the inlet opening of the meter flow passageway 78. A prime function of the bushing 76 is to maintain the upper seal 68 and lower seal 72 in vertically spaced relationship and in position respectively above and below the inlet opening of the meter flow passageway 73.

The lower seal 72, a sealing ring, is disposed between the bottom end of the bushing 70 and the top flange 92 of the infeed conduit 56. The inside diameter of the lower seal 72 is such that under normal operative condi tions the inside cylindrical surface thereof can engage in sliding, sealing fit the infeed flow block section 96 of the directional valve rod 66. Similarly, the inside diameter of the upper seal 68 is such that under normal operative conditions the inside cylindrical surface thereof can engage in sliding, sealing fit the meter flow block section 98. In these respects, it can now be observed that the directional valve rod 611 under normal operative conditions has an elevated position and a lowered position. In the elevated position the infeed flow block section 96 of the directional valve rod 69 is in sealing engagement with the lower seal 72 while the flow section 94 is at and on both sides of the upper seal 68 and the meter flow block section 98 is spaced above the upper seal 68. In the lowered position the infeed flow block section 96 of the directional valve rod 60 is spaced below the lower seal 72, the flow section 94 is generally opposite the lower seal 72, and the meter flow block section 98 is in sealing engagement with the upper seal 68.

The check valve 74, best shown in FIG. 11, comprises a cylindrical tube 102, O-ring seals 194 and 106, a cone valve body 108 and a compression spring 110. The cylindrical tube 102 is horizontally disposed with a rear part thereof in the outlet portion of the discharge passageway 86 in threaded engagement therewith. The cylindrical tube extends forwardly from the block member 54 through a suitable opening in the panel 42 and into the corresponding input passageway of the mixer assembly 32. The portion of the cylindrical tube 102 within the discharge passageway 86 has at the front end. thereof an annular slot in which is seated the O-ring seal 104. The portion of the cylindrical tube 192 which is received in the corresponding input passageway of the mixer assembly 32 likewise has at the back end thereof an annular slot in which is seated the O-ring seal 1116. The cone valve body 198 is disposed at the front end of the check valve tube 1112. The base portion thereof is on the outside front end of the tube 1612, while the apex portion thereof is disposed within the central passageway formed by the tube 102. The apex end is secured to one end of the compression spring 110 while the other end of the compression spring 11% is attached to a post member 112 extending inwardly from the inside surface of the cylindrical tube 102.

Thus, the valve section 50 of each component meter and valve assembly 28 and 39 has functionally and structurally three valves. One valve, the component input valve, is formed by the lower seal 72 and the infeed flow block section 96 of the directional valve rod 69. The second valve, the metered component discharge valve, is formed by the upper seal 68 and the meter flow block section 98 of the directional valve rod 60. The third valve is the check valve 74.

The meter section 52 of each component meter and valve assembly 28 and 30, shown in FIG. 9, comprises a block member 114, a plunger rod 116, packing 118, a packing retainer and leakage accumulator 120, and a ratio tube 122.

The block member 114 is mounted adjacent the back side of the block member 54 of the corresponding valve section 51 by means of tie bolts extending through suitable openings in the panel 42, the valve section block member 54 and the meter section block member 114 and in threaded engagement with retainer nuts. The meter section block member 114 has a normally vertically disposed, round, central hole 124 extending from the top thereof to the bottom thereof. The block member 114 also comprises a horizontal meter flow passageway 126, the inlet of which, when the block member is in position, is in register with the outlet of the meter flow passageway 78 of the valve section block member. The outlet of the horizontal meter flow passageway 126 of the meter section block member 114 is at the central hole 124 therethrough. Above the outlet the central hole 1 24 has an annular shoulder 128 on top which is positioned the packing 118.

The plunger rod .116 is a cylindrical rod normally vertically disposed within the central hole 124 and movable vertically therein. It extends upwardly from the top opening of the central hole 124. The plunger rod 116 above the annular shoulder 128 is laterally surrounded by the packing 118, which is held in place by a packing retainer and leakage accumulator 126 above the packing in threaded engagement with the inside surface of the central hole 124. The inner wall 127 of the packing retainer and leakage accumulator 120 is radially spaced from the plunger rod 116. Hence, there is provided an annular well for accumulating any component which should happen to leak upwardly along the plunger rod 116 past the packing 118.

The ratio tube 122. is a hollow cylinder with the normally bottom end thereof closed (see FIG. 3). The upper end is open and in threaded engagement with the inside surface of the bottom portion of the central hole 124. The plunger rod L16 is free to descend to the bottom of the ratio tube 122 and to ascend therefrom. Under normal operative conditions the plunger rod 116 has a single elevated position and any one of a number of lowered positions dependent upon the quantum size setting involved in the machine control assembly 36.

Thus, the valve and meter sections 50 and 52 of each component meter and valve assembly 28 and 30, it will be observed in FIG. 9, provides a meter chamber 129 having an inlet at the lower seal 72 and an outlet at the upper seal 63. The meter chamber 129 is formed by the inner space of the bushing 70, the rearwardly directed passageway 78 in the block member 54, the frontwardly directed passageway 126 in the block member 114, the central portion of the central hole 124 through the block member 114 and the interior of the ratio tube 122.

The mixer assembly -32, best shown in FIG. 9, comprises a mixer body 130, a rotor 132, an O-ring seal 134, a rotor seal 136 and a cap 138. The mixer body 130 is a block having a flat back side. It contains a normally vertically disposed cylindrical mixing chamber 140 open at the top. It also contains an input passageway 142 for each component. The inlet of the input passageway 142 corresponds to the outlet of the discharge passageway 86 in the corresponding component meter and valve assembly. When the block or mixer body 130 is in position on the face of the panel 42 the front end portion of the corresponding check valve tube 192 extends into the inlet of the input passageway 142. The input passageway 142 from the inlet portion thereof has a riser portion which opens into the bottom of the mixing chamber 140. Also, at the bottom end of the cylindrical chamber 140 and at the center thereof, the block .1 30 is provided with a small slot in which is seated a rotor end bearing 144 on which the rotor 132 is supported. The upper end of the block 130 has at the top of the opening of the mixing chamber 141] an annular recess in which is seated the O-ring seal for blocking leakage between the underlying mixer body 1311 and the cap 138. At the outer top corners of the mixer body 130 are vertical corner members 146 with lateral slots 1 18 on the inner sides thereof in which are seated corresponding portions of the cap 138.

The cap 13% comprises a block having a central rotor shaft opening 156) therethrough and at the normally bottom end thereof a downwardly extending annular embossment 152 about said opening 151 for engaging the O-ring seal 134 in sealing fit and for capping the mixing chamber 141). The annular embossment 152, intermediate the bottom end thereof and the overhang of said cap 138, comprises cornerwise projecting ears 154 seated in the corresponding slots 148 of the corner members 146 of the mixer body 130 and holding the mixer assembly 32 together. Between the rotor shaft opening 150 and the minimum outside circumference of the annular embossment 15 2 is a vertically disposed discharge passageway 155 which, above the embossment 1S2, turns horizontally to the front of the cap 133. The discharge passageway has an inlet 158 which is disposed at the top of the mix ing chamber 149. it also has an outlet 16d which is on the front side of the cap. Seated in the outlet in threaded engagement therewith is a dispensing spout 162 (see FIGS. 9 and 3).

The rotor 132 comprises a shaft 164 normally vertically disposed in coaxial alignment with the cylindrical mixing chamber 14% in the mixer body 1311 and extending upwardly and outwardly through the rotor shaft opening 15% and through the cap 138. Between the rotor shaft 164 and the rotor shaft opening 156 through the cap, there is mounted in the bottom part of the shaft opening the rotor seal 136. The rotor seal 136 engages the rotor shaft 164 in sliding, sealing fit and prevents leakage of composition from the mixing chamber 149 up along the shaft 154.

The rotor 132 within the mixing chamber 1 2i? comprises a number of discs mounted on the rotor shaft 164 and normally horizontally disposed. The bottom or first disc 16d, adjacent the bottom end of the mixing chamber 141 is in the form (see FIG. 15) of a planer, circular plate having a plurality of orifices 16$.- therethrough. The next or second disc and the fourth disc 172 have axially spaced portions. in plan View (FIG. 14) these two discs have radial slits 174 extending from the region of the rotor shaft to the circumferential periphery. The radial blades 176 thus formed are alternately displaced at the circumference upwardly and downwardly from the plane of the disc in each case (see FIG. 9). The third or middle disc 178 and the fifth or top disc 18% are substantially planar. They are notched so that in plan view (FIG. 13) they each appear to have a swastika blade configuration. Each of these discs 178 and 1813 has a plurality of notches 181 which extend from adjacent the rotor shaft 164- to the circumferential periphery of the disc. Preferably, the centerline of each notch 181 of the disc is at an acute angle to the disc radius at the circumference of the disc, and preferably the disc in each case is arranged on the rotor shaft 164- so that the centerline of each notch 181 is inclined towards the normal direction of rotation of the rotor shaft 164. The maximum diameter of each of the discs 166, 170, 173, 172, and is such that only a minute gap exists between the cylindrical surface of the wall of the mixing chamber 141} and the periphery of each disc.

The mixer assembly 32 is detachably mounted on the front of the panel 12 by a bale assembly involving a pair of bale blocks 132 and 184 (see FIG. 1), a bale 1'86 and a clamp screw 13%. The bale blocks 182 and 134 are secured as by screws and the like to the panel 42, one on each side of the mixer body 130. The bale 136 is pivotally mounted on the bale blocks 182 and 134 with a horizontal axis of rotation, being pivoted downwardly from a horizontal position in order to remove the mixer assembly 32 from the machine 26 and being pivoted upwardly to the horizontal position to secure the mixer assembly 32 to the machine. Because of this aspect it will be observed that the bottom front portion of the mixer body 130 is beveled to avoid interference between the bale 1'86 and the mixer body 130. The clamp screw 188 is threadedly mounted on the front cross piece of the bale 186 and engages the outside of the mixer body 1311 when tightened down with the bale in position.

At this point it should be mentioned that the first and second component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 3t) and the mixer assembly 32 are positioned below the normal range of liquid levels in the component storage tanks 4 1 of the first and second component supply assemblies 24 and 26. Hence, components move through the machine 20 primarily by virtue of gravity flow and displacement flow.

The mixer motor assembly 34 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) comprises an air motor 191" and a fiexible drive shaft 192. The air motor is mounted on the front side of the panel member 42 over the mixer assembly 32 and with the power shaft thereof pointing downwardly substantially in alignment with the vertical axis of the rotor shaft 164. The flexible drive shaft 192 at its top end is coupled by a permanent coupling to the air motor power shaft and at its bottom end is coupled by a socket type coupling to the rotor shaft 164. Pressure air is delivered to the air motor 1% by way of a motor air delivery conduit 194 passing through a suitable opening in the panel 42 from the back side thereof to the front side thereof.

The machine control assembly 36 comprises a primary control valve 2% (FIGS. 2 and 4), a double action air cylinder 202 (FIGS. 2, 3, and a secondary control valve 204 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 a double action air cylinder 2% (FIGS. 2, 3, and 4), a quantum counter 268 (FIGS. 2 and 5), a quantum size selector structure 210 (FIGS. 2, 4, and 16-18), and a manual stop-start control structure 212 (FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 7). The primary control valve 201 as shown in FIG. 4, is mounted on the back side of the panel 42 and to one side of the air cylinders 202 and 206. The stop-start control structure 212 is mechanically associated with the primary control valve 200, as shown in FIG. 4, and the quantum size selector structure 210 which is likewise on the back side of the panel 42. Looking at the machine control assembly 36 from the side, as in FIG. 3, it will be observed that the double action air cylinder 292 is mounted adjacent the back side of the panel 42. Below the double action cylinder 262 are the valve sections 5% of the component meter and valve assemblies 28 an 3t Above the double action air cylinder 262 is the secondary control valve 204. Above the secondary control valve 204 is the quantum counter 268. Rearwardly of and above the double action air cylinder 20-2 is mounted the double action air cylinder 206. It is mounted above the meter sections 52 of the component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 3%. Between the double action air cylinder 292 and the double action air cylinder 296 is the quantum size selector structure 216*.

The primary control valve 269, as shown best in FIG. 4, is a four-way air valve of the sliding spool type and of a conventional structure. It comprises a housing 214 and a slideable valve spool 216. The housing 214, secured as by screws and the like to a valve bracket 217 which is attached by screws and the like to the back side of the panel 42, is disposed generally laterally of the double action air cylinder 206 and with the outer portion of the slideable valve spool 216 extending downwardly. The housing 214 comprises a pressure inlet port, an exhaust port, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. Coupled to the inlet port is one end of a branch, pressure air line 218, the other end of which is coupled as by a T-coupling to a main pressure air supply line 220 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The first outlet port is coupled to one end of a piston descend air delivery conduit 222 (FIG. 4), the other end of which (FIG. 5) is coupled to the piston descend air inlet port of the double action air cylinder 20-2. The second outlet port is coupled to a T-coupling which is connected to the inlet end of the motor air delivery conduit 194 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and to the inlet end of a piston ascend air delivery conduit 226 (FIG. 4), the outlet end of which (FIG. 5) is coupled to the piston lower air inlet port of the double action air cylinder 202.

The valve spool 216 of the primary control valve 200 has a neutral position (FIG. 6), an up position (FIG. 7) and a down position (FIG. 8). In the neutral position no pressure air passes therethrough to the outlet ports of the valve 204}. In the up position pressure air passes from the branch pressure air line 218 through the valve 200 to the second outlet port and the exhaust port is in communication with the first outlet port whereby the piston of the double action air cylinder 2tl2 is caused to ascend and the air motor 1% caused to rotate. In the down position of the valve spool 216, pressure air passes from the branch pressure air line 218 through the primary control valve 200 and out of the first outlet port into the piston descend air delivery conduit 222 and the exhaust port is in communication with the second outlet port whereby the piston of the double action air cylinder 202 is caused to descend and the air motor is no longer actuated.

The double action air cylinder 20-2 has a conventional structure and is suspended on vertically disposed tie bolts 228 secured to a horizontally disposed junction block 236) (FIGS. 3, 4, and 5). The junction block 230 is mounted on the back side of the panel 42. The air cylinder 202 comprises a vertically moveable piston to which are secured a bottom piston rod 232 and a top piston rod 234. Both of the piston rods (see FIG. 5) are disposed on the normally vertical centerline of the double action air cylinder 202. The bottom piston rod 232 is connected at its lower end to a horizontally disposed cross bar 236. Attached to the cross bar 236 are the top ends of the vertically disposed directional valve rods 60 of the valve sections 50 of the component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 30. Thus, the directional valve rods 60 are tied in to a common lift and lower structure which causes the directional valve rods 60- to ascend and descend to gether. The top piston rod 234 is coupled to the downwardly extending valve spool 23% of the secondary control valve 204. Accordingly, the junction block 230 is provided with a vertically disposed passageway 23? (FIGS. 3 and 5) to accommodate the top piston rod 234 and the coupling structure associated therewith.

The secondary control valve 204 (FIGS 3 and 5) is a four-way air valve of a conventional sliding spool type. It comprises the valve spool 238 and a valve housing 24%). The valve housing 246 is secured to a mounting bracket 242 attached as by screws and the like to the back side of the panel 42. The housing 240 is arranged so that the valve spool 238 is vertically disposed with an outer actuating portion thereof extending downwardly. The valve spool 238 also has an outer portion 244 which extends upwardly from the top side of the valve housing 240. The bottom outer actuating portion of the valve spool 238 is coupled to the top piston rod 234 of the double action air cylinder 202. The top outer portion 244 is linked to the quantum counter 208.

The valve housing 240 of the secondary control valve 204 has an inlet port, an exhaust port (not shown), a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The inlet port is coupled to one end of a branch pressure air line 246 (FIG. 5), the other end of which is coupled as by a T- coupling to the main pressure air supply line 220. The first outlet port is coupled to one end of a piston extend air delivery conduit 248 (FIG. 5), the other end (FIG. 3) of which is coupled to the piston extend air inlet port of the double action air cylinder 206. The second outlet port is coupled to one end of a piston retract air delivery conduit 250 (FIG. 5), the other end (FIGS. 3 and 4) of which is coupled to the piston retract air inlet port of the double action air cylinder 206. Both the piston extend air delivery conduit 248 and piston retract air conduit 250 have adjustable restrictor valves 252 and 254. The restrictor valves 25-2 and 254 are of a conventional structure, a needle valve structure being typical. Both function to deliver air freely in one direction and to restrict air flow to preset valves in the other direction. The restrictor valve 252 in the extend air delivery conduit 248 is arranged to pass air freely in the direction of flow to the extend air inlet of the double action air cylinder 2% and to restrict the flow of air in the flow direction away from the extend air inlet of the double action air cylinder 206 (or when the inlet is on exhaust). The restrictor valve 254 in the retract air delivery conduit 1 1 250 is arranged to pass air freely in the direction of fiow to the retract air inlet of the double action air cylinder 206 and to restrict the flow of air in the flow direction away from the retract air inlet (or when the inlet is on exhaust.)

The valve spool 23 8 has a down position and an up position. In the up position the first outlet port and thus the piston extend air delivery conduit 248 are in communication with the pressure air inlet of the secondary control valve 204 and the second outlet port and thus the piston retract air delivery conduit 250 are in communication with the exhaust port. In the down position of the valve spool 238, the situation is reversed, the first outlet port and piston extend air delivery conduit 248 being in communication with the exhaust port, and the second outlet port and piston retract air delivery conduit 250 being associated with the pressure air branch conduit 246.

The double action air cylinder 206 is of a conventional structure. It comprises an air actuated piston connected to a cross bar 258. The top ends of the plunger rods 116 of the meter sections 52 of the component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 30 are secured to the cross bar 258. Hence, the plunger rods are caused thereby to ascend and descend together and at the same time.

The counter 208 is mounted on the back side of the panel member 42. It has a conventional structure comprising a reset lever 260' extending frontwardly therefrom through a suitable opening in the panel member 42. It also has a rearwardly disposed crank 262. Connected to the rearward end of the crank 262 and to the top valve spool portion 244 of the secondary control valve spool 238 is a link 264. When the crank 262 is rotated downwardly as when the valve spool descends to its down position, the counter mechanism in the counter 208 turns over one digit, registering one count.

The quantum size selector structure 210' comprises a gear rack combination 266 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and a selector arm structure 268 (FIGS. 4 and 16-18).

The gear rack combination 266 involves a gear rack 270, a bottom support bracket 272, a support pin 274 and a rocker arm 276. The gear rack 270 is vertically dispoed in a space between the two air cylinders 202 and 206. The bottom end thereof has a vertically elongated, laterally facing slot 278 and is disposed between two horizontally positioned, spaced apart, rearwardly directed legs of the bottom support bracket 272. The bottom support bracket 272 is secured as by screws and the like to the back side of the panel 42. Horizontally positioned through the slot 278 in the gear rack 270 is the support pin 27-4 which is disposed through corresponding holes of the legs of the bottom support bracket 272. The upper end of the gear rack 270 is slideably disposed in a corresponding slot in the back side of the junction block 230. On the back side of the upper end of the gear rack 270 and pivotally mounted thereon is the rocker arm 276. The rocker arm 276 is a generally horizontally disposed bar having intermediate the ends thereof a top arcuate cam surface 280 and a bottom arcuate cam surface 282. The top cam surface 280 is normally in vertical alignment with, and under certain normal operative conditions in contact with, the bottom front portion of the double action air cylinder 206'. The bottom cam surface 282 is normally in vertical alignment with, and under certain normal operative conditions in contact with, the top front portion of the cross bar 258 attached to the plunger rods 1:16 and to the piston rod 256 of the double action air cylinder 206. The pivotal mounting of the rocker arm 176 to the gear rack 270 occurs also intermediate the rocker arm ends. One end of the rocker arm 276 is pivotally joined to the bottom outer end of the valve spool 216 of the primary control valve 200. The other end is pivotally attached to a part of the stopstart structure 212.

The selector arm structure 268 is mounted on the gear rack 270. The selector arm structure 263 comprises a selector arm 234, a guide member 236, a clamp arm member 288 and a spring member 290. The selector arm 234 comprises a fiat portion 292 disposed adjacent the back side of the gear rack 270. The guide member 286 is secured to theselector ar-m 284 at the end thereof adjacent the gear rack 270 and extends therefrom to the gear teeth side or back side of the gear rack 27 0 (see FIG. 18). On this side of the gear rack 270 the guide member 286 has a flange 294 which overlaps the gear teeth of the gear rack 270. The selector arm 284 extends horizontally and laterally from the gear rack and from one side of the panel 42. On this side of the gear rack 270 the clamp arm member 288 is pivotally mounted on the selector arm 284. On the gear rack side of the pivotal mounting of the clamp arm member 283 to the selector arm 284, the clamp member 288 has a strike block portion 296 for receiving under normal operative conditions the cross bar 258 secured to the plunger rods 116 and to the piston rod 256 of the double action air cylinder 206. The inner or front side of the strike block portion 296 has a gear teeth portion corresponding to the gear teeth of the gear rack 270. The spring member 290 is a helical tension spring mounted on the clamp arm member 238 between the pivot thereof and the strike bar portion thereof. It is disposed on the back side of the clamp arm member 288 and is held in position by a retention bolt 298 disposed through the center of the spring member 290, through a suitable slot in the clamp arm member 288 and in threaded engagement with the selector arm 284. The clamp arm member 288 extends laterally from its pivotal connection with the selector arm 284 and laterally to one side of the panel 42. Hence, in order to operate the selector arm structure 268, all that need be done is to squeeze the outer lateral end of the clamp arm member 288 to the selector arm 284 so as to disengage the strike block portion 296 from the gear teeth of the gear rack 270 and move the selector arm structure 268 upwardly or downwardly to that elevation at which the desired quantum size of composition is dispensed by the machine. Thus, the construction of the selector arm structure 268 and mode of operation are closely akin to that of an ordinary clothespin.

For setting the selector arm structure 268 at predetermined elevations, there may be attached to the front side of the panel 42 a vertically disposed scale 300 (see FIG.

1). The scale 300 is preferably ai'fixed to the panel 42 in the region of the side thereof beyond which the selector arm 284 and clamp arm member 288 extend. A pointer member 302 secured to the selector arm 284 is preferably provided in such instance. The pointer member 302 is secured to the front side of the selector arm 284 and extends therefrom forwardly and thence laterally in- Wardly.

The stop-start structure 212 comprises a control lever 304, a pivot bar 306, a control rod 308 and a guide plate 310. The control lever 304 is generally horizontally disposed and has a portion extending forwardly of the panel 42 (FIGS. 1 and 3). It also has a portion extending through a vertically elongated aperture 312 through the panel 42 and rearwardly of the panel 42. The vertically elongated aperture 312 has at the bottom end thereof a lateral offset portion 314 for receiving the depressed control lever 304 when automatic quantum dispensing operation is desired. The pivot bar 306 has one end thereof stationarily mounted to the corresponding side wall of the panel 42. The other end of the pivot bar 306 is pivotally secured to the back end of the control lever 304. Between this pivotal connection and the back side of the panel 42 the control lever 304 has a control rod connector 316 secured thereto. Seated in the connector portion 316 is the bottom end portion of the control rod 308 (FIG. 3). The control rod 308 extends upwardly from its connection with the control rod connector 316 between the selector arm 284 of the selector arm structure 268 and the back side of the panel 42. In the region of the rocker arm 276 of the gear rack structure 266 the control rod 308 has a hook portion with the end section of the control rod 208 being somewhat parallel to the main portion of the control rod 308. This end section of the control rod 308 is pivotally connected to the corresponding end of the rocker arm 276 and preferably the pivotal connection is above the end of the control rod 308, whereby there is an end part of the end section extending downwardly below the rocker arm 276. The guide plate 310, a normally horizontal plate, has an aperture for receiving this end part of the control rod 308. The guide plate 310 is secured to the underside of the junction block 230 and functions to keep the top end of the control rod 308 in proper position. Preferably, regardless of the phase of operation in the operation cycle of the machine 20, some portion of the end part of the control rod 308 is seated in the aperture of the guide.

Machine Operation With the machine 20 assembled, the main air supply line 220 coupled to a source of pressure air and the shutoff valves 48 in the component supply assemblies 24 and 26 in off position, the machine 20 is prepared for operation in the following manner.

The component storage tanks 44 are partially filled with the corresponding components. The mixer assembly 32 is removed from the machine. The shut-off valve 48 in the accelerator component supply assembly 24 is opened and the machine 20 tilted backwardly about 45. The control lever 304 is then depressed and seated in the lateral offset 314 of the control lever aperture 312 of the panel 42, placing the machine 20 in automatic operation. When quanta of the accelerator or first component appear at the outlet of the corresponding check valve 74 in airfree condition, the control lever is released from the lateral offset 314. The same procedure is followed with respect to the second component.

The mixer assembly 32 is remounted in position on the panel 42 and the control lever 30 4 manually depressed until the mixing chamber 140 is full of composition and composition appears in the dispensing spout 162. The component storage tanks 44 are then filled to capacity, or at least to normal operative liquid levels. The machine 20 is now in readiness for normal operation. t

When the machine 20 is in stopped or idle condition, the valve spool 216 of the primary control valve 200 is in neutral position (FIG. 6), the piston of the double action air cylinder 202 is in lowered position, the valve spool 238 of the secondary control valve 204 is in down position and the piston of the double action air cylinder 206 is in elevated position. Hence, the directional valve rods 60 are in down position in the valve sections 50 of the component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 30 and the plunger rods 116 are in elevated position in the meter section 52 of the component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 30. Therefore, when the machine 20 is in stopped or idle condition, in each component meter and valve assembly 28 and 30 the component input valve is open and the metered component discharge valve is closed.

When it is desired to dispense a predetermined quan tum of composition, the selector arm structure 268 is set at an elevation corresponding to said predetermined quantum, as indicated by the pointer 302 and the scale 300 on the front side of the panel 42. The manual control lever 304 is then pushed down to the bottom end of the control lever aperture 312 through the face panel. This pulls down the control rod 308, causing the rocker arm 276 to pivot downwardly at the control rod end thereof to a substantially horizontal position (FIG. 7) and upwardly at the pivotal connection thereof with the valve spool 216 of the primary control valve 200 pushing in or raising the valve spool 216. This pivotal movement of the rocker arm 276 occurs with the top arcuate cam surface 280 bearing against the bottom end of the double action air cylinder 206 and the bottom arcuate cam surface 282 bearing against the top end of the cross bar 258 joined to the top ends of the plunger rods 116 and to the bottom end of the piston rod 256 of the double action air cylinder 206. Upon retraction of the valve spool 216 into the primary control valve 200 the machine cycle of operation commences and the control lever 304 can be released.

In the machine cycle of operation the first phase involves the raising of the directional valve rods 60 into elevated position and rotation of the air motor 190. The second phase of operation involves the lowering of the plunger rods 116 into the ratio tubes 122 to the lowered positions thereof established by the selector arm structure 268 and rotation of the air motor 190. In the third phase of operation the directional valve rods 60 are lowered into position. In the fourth phase of operation the plunger rods 116 are raised to their elevated position.

In greater detail, upon retraction of the valve spool 216 into raised or up position in the primary control valve 200, pressure air is supplied to the air motor and to the piston elevate air inlet port of the double action air cylinder 202, and the piston lower air inlet port is in communication with the exhaust port of the primary control valve 200. The double action air cylinder piston rods 232 and 234 are thereby elevated, pulling up into raised position the directional valve rods '60 and raising or retracting the valve spool 238 of the secondary control valve 204.

When the secondary control valve spool 238 reaches its raised position, the piston extend air inlet of the double action air cylinder 206 is supplied with pressure air and the piston retract air inlet is on exhaust, whereby the plunger rods 116 are lowered into the ratio tubes 122 at a rate determined by the restrictor valve 254.

When the cross bar 250 in its downward travel strikes the strike block portion 296 of the selector arm structure 268, the gear rack 270 is shifted downwardly as in FIGS. 4 and 8. This shifts downwardly the rocker arm 276 at its pivotal connection with the gear rack 270. However, the control rod 308 at the time of depression of the control lever 304 is already shifted downwardly as far as it can normally go because of the bottoming of the control liver 304 in the control lever aperture 312 in the panel Hence, the effect of the downward shift of the rocker arm 276 at its pivotal connection is to tilt the rocker arm 276 downwardly with its pivotal connection with the control rod 308 being the fulcrum or pivot point. This causes the valve spool 216 of the primary valve 200 to be pulled out to its down position. See FIG. 8. This places the piston elevate air inlet port of the double action air cylinder 202 on exhaust and the piston lower air inlet port of the double action air cylinder 202 in communication with the branch pressure air supply line 218, causing the top and bottom piston rods 232 and 234 to descend, lowering the directional valve rods 60 into place in the metering sections 50 and pulling out the valve spool 238 of the secondary control valve 204.

Movement of the valve spool 238 into its fully extended or down position actuates the quantum counter 208, which registers one count, and places the double action air cylinder inlet ports in reverse condition. The piston retract arr inlet port of the double action air cylinder 206 is supplied with pressure air from the branch pressure air supply line 246 and the piston extend air inlet port is on exhaust. As a result, the piston rod 256 of the double action air cylinder 206 is retracted at a rate determined by the restrictor valve 252 and the plunger rods 116 are lifted.

When the cross bar 258 joined to the top ends of the plunger rods 116 and to the bottom end of the piston rod 256 of the double action air cylinder 206 strikes the bottom arcuate cam surface 282 of the rocker arm 276, the gear rack 270 and rocker arm 276 are shifted upwardly. This lifts up the control rod 308 and control lever 304 into their initial positions. This also depresses the-valve spool 216 of the primary control valve 200 into neutral position, thereby stopping the flow of pressure air to the double action air cylinder 202. The machine 20 is now in idle or stoppedcondition as in FIG. 6.

In the component meter and valve assemblies 28 and 30 and in the mixer assembly 32 during the first phase of the machine cycle of operation, the mixer rotor 132 is in rotation and ascent of the directional valve rods 60 closes the component input valves and opens the metered component discharge valves.

During the second phase of the machine cycle of operation, the mixer rotor 132 is still in rotation but the plunger rods 116 descend into the ratio tubes 122. In each component meter and valve assembly 28 and 30, component equal in volume to the volume of the corresponding plunger rod 116 immersed in the corresponding ratio tube 122 is displaced therefrom through the discharge passageway 86'past the check valve 74 and through the corresponding component input passageway 142 into the mixing chamber 140'.

As can be seen, the structure of the machine is such that the components flow into the mixing chamber 140 separately from one another. Moreover, the check valves 74 prevent back-mixing. However, upon emerging from the component input passageways 142 into the chamber 140 and with the rotor 132 in rotation, the components become intimately and immediately mixed. The circular orifices 168 through bottommost disc 166 of the rotor 132 sweeps across the outlets of the component input passageways 142 at the bottom of the mixing chamber 140. As these orifices 168 sweep each outlet, they cause a surging of component from each outlet, a pulsating entry into the mixing chamber 140. The discs of the rotor 132 above the bottommost disc 166 function to slice and shear and knead the components as they pass through the mixing chamber 140. This slicing and shearing and kneading causes the components to become intimately mixed, but such also has a centrifugal effect upon components and composition in the chamber. However, because the swastika bladed discs,170 and 172 have portions which are alternately displaced above and below the planes of the discs adjacent the rotor shaft 164, an efiective scraping of the mixing chamber wall is caused to take place and components and composition forced towards the rotor axis. Flow of quanta of components into the mixing chamber 140 displaces an equivalent quantum of composition from the mixing chamber 140, mixer discharge passageway 156 and dispensing spout 162.

During the third phase of the machine cycle of operation the mixer rotor 132 has ceased to rotate. However, the directional valve rods 60 are lowered, closing the metered component discharge valves and opening the component input valves.

Finally, during the fourth phase of the machine cycle of operation the plunger rods 116 are raised whereby components from the infeed conduits 56 and supply assemblies 24 and 26 flow by force of gravity through the interconnecting passageways 86 and 126 into the ratio tubes 122.

For automatic operation, which is to say, for the automatic successive dispensing of quanta of composition, upon depressing the control lever 304 in the control lever aperture 312, the control lever 304 is laterally shifted into the lateral offset portion 314 at the bottom end of the aperture and released therein. The downward shift of the control lever 304 and thus of the control rod 3% is thereby established and maintained. Hence, upon completion of the fourth phase in the machine cycle of operation, upward shift of the gear rack 270 and rocker arm 276 causes the rocker arm 276 to tilt upwardly from the pivotal connection thereof with the end of the control rod 308. This results in the valve spool 216 being raised past its neutral position into its fuliy depressed be done is to merely return the control lever 3M- laterally irito alignment with the vertically elongated control lever aperture 312.

The machine 26, as before stated, makes use of a positive displacement metering system. In the structure shown, the quantity of component displaced from each ratio tube 122 equals the cross sectional area of the corresponding plunger rod 116 multiplied by the depth of immersion of the corresponding plunger rod 116 in the ratio tube 122. By selecting plunger rods 116 with various diameters, various proportions of components can be delivered into the mixing chamber 146, and by selecting various depths of immersion of the'plunger rods 11-6, the quantum of composition dispensed by the machine 20 can be varied.

To change the time of the machine cycle of operation, to change the length of time of the second phase in the cycle, and to change the length of time of the fourth phase in the cycle, the restrictor valves 252 and 254 can be adjusted. Hence, operation of the machine 2t} can be readily adjusted to local conditions.

Thus, there is provided a practical, relatively simple device for metering, mixing, and dispensing discrete quanta of fiowable, multi-component compounds in intermittent or production line use. No particular skill is needed to adjust and operate the machine. Adjustment for size of the quantum, manual or automatic operation and dispensing frequency in automatic use is easily accomplished by means of simple levers and screw driver adjustments. Positive accurate delivery of composition is assured by the displacement method. Standard plunger rod diameter and travel distance assures a uniformly accurate quantum of composition discharged through the dispensing spout 16 2. There are no moving seals to rupture or leak and the three simple mixing assembly parts may be easily and quickly removed and cleaned when desired.

The machine of this invention has an advantage in that it is completely enclosed and employs airoperated mechanisms, whereby the danger of flash combustion when dealing with highly volatile materials, the danger and discomfort of toxic and noxious fumes in the atmosphere and air entrainment are minimized.

Another advantage of the machine of this invention is the ease with which the various structures thereof may be disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled.

The machine 20 is useful in a number of industrial processes. For example, in the fabrication of electrical resistors moving upon a conveyor, it can be used to deposit a predetermined quantity of potting compound within the resistor shell of each resistor at a particular point on the conveyor line. Another example is in the fabrication of paint brushes and the like. In such an instance the bristles are set in a hardenable chemical composition. The handles and the metal receptacles within which the bristles are placed move along a conveyor and at a particular point in the conveyor line the machine 20 can be operated to deliver a predetermined quantity of the chemical composition into the receptacle to pot the bristles.

These and other advantages, meritorious features and embodiments will be apparent to those in the exercise of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing specification. Thus, instead of employing a pressure air cylinder system, a hydraullic fluid system may be used. Moreover, when one or more of the components have too high a consistency for practical operation under gravity flow principles, the component storage tanks 44 can be pressurized. In addition, while the machine 20 is suitable for two component type compositions, it can be readily modified for three or more component operations by additional component supply assemblies, component meter and valve assemblies and by modifying the mixer body 130 to provide additional component input passageways 142. Hence, the specific embodiment just described has been disclosed for purposes of illustration and not for restriction, and the scope of the invention is measured by the appended claims. Therefore, all embodiments, modifications, and variations thereof falling within the metes and bounds of the claims are intended to be embraced thereby unless specifically excluded by express language in the claims.

We claim:

1. A machine for preparing and dispensing a predetermined, discrete quantum of composition from at least two, pumpable, substantially incompressible components in a preselected volumetric ratio, said machine comprising: component meter and valve means for each of said components, each of said component meter and valve means comprising an enclosed meter chamber with an inlet and an outlet, inlet valve means at said inlet, outlet valve means at said outlet, and plunger means alternately shiftable into said meter chamber to displace a volume of component therefrom, and shiftable out of said meter chamber to draw a volume of component into said meter chamber; component mixing and composition dispensing means including an enclosed mixing chamber having an inlet at one end for each of said components and an outlet at the other end for said composition; a rotor disposed for rotation in said mixing chamber; means for rotating said rotor; conduit means from the outlet of each of said component meter and valve means to the corresponding inlet of said component mixing and composition dispensing means; means operatively coupled to said plunger means for shifting the same into and out of said meter chamber; and means for closing said inlet valve means and opening said outlet valve means prior to moving said plunger means into said meter chamber, and for opening said inlet valve means and closing said outlet valve means priorlto moving said plunger means out of said meter chamber.

2. A machine for preparing and dispensing i8. predetermined, discrete quantum of composition from at least two, pumpable, substantially incompressible components in a preselected volumetric ratio, which comprises: a suppont assembly comprising a normally horizontal base and a normally vertical panel mounted on said base; a component supply assembly for each of said components, each component supply assembly comprising a component storage tank mounted on said base and a tank discharge conduit with one end coupled to an outlet of said tank in the region of the bottom thereof; a component meter and valve assembly for each of said components, each component meter and valve assembly being mounted on the back side of said panel and comprising a generally vertically disposed meter chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet and outlet being vertically disposed in vertical alignment and having valve seal means, plunger means vertically movable down into and up out of said meter chamber, and directional valve means disposed in said inlet and outlet and vertically movable down and up through said inlet and outlet, said directional valve means in combination with said valve seal means closing said outlet and opening said inlet when in down position and opening said outlet and closing said inlet when in up position, said inlet being coupled to a corresponding component tank discharge conduit; a mixer assembly mounted on the front side of said panel and comprising a vertically disposed mixer chamber with an inlet for each of said components in the bottom end thereof and a dispensing outlet for composition at the top end thereof, and vertically disposed rotor means in said mixer chamber, said rotor means comprising a plurality of rotatable mixing disc means for applying shear and knead forces transversely to components and composition in said mixer chamber flowing from said inlets to said outlet; pressure fluid type prime mover means for rotating said rotor means and mounted on the front side of said panel; metered component conduit means for each of said components from the corresponding outlet of said corresponding meter chamber to the corresponding inlet of said mixer chamber, each of said metered component conduit means comprising check valve means permitting flow from said outlet to said inlet while opposing flow from said inlet to said outlet; first pressure fluid. cylinder means mounted on the back side of said panel and having piston rod means secured to each of said directional valve means; second pressure fluid cylinder means mounted on the back side of said panel and having piston rod means secured to each of said plunger means; and machine control means mounted on the back side of said panel for control of pressure fluid to and from said pressure fluid cylinder means and prime mover means so that in a cycle of operation of said machine said directional valve means are first lifted into up position, said plunger means are then plunged into said meter chamber of each component meter and valve assembly while said prime mover rotates said rotor means, said directional valve means are next lowered into down position, and said plunger means are finally returned to initial position.

3. Apparatus for metering and mixing a plurality of floWa-ble component materials and dispensing the resultant mixture comprising, in combination: a source of each opening the inlet and closing the outlet; a displacement plunger extending into each metering chamber and shiftabie therein; each metering chamber inlet being communicatively coupled to a respective source of component material; means operatively connected to said displacement plunger to shift the plunger into the metering chamber when said valve is shifted to a position closing the inlet and opening the outlet, and alternately to shift the plunger out of the metering chamber when the valve is shifted to a position opening said inlet and closing said outlet; an enclosed mixing chamber removably supported in the apparatus and having an inlet for each component material and an outlet for said mixture; component material conducting passageways communicating at one end with said respective metering chamber outlets and having opposite ends opening substantially directly into said mixing chamber through respective chamber inlets; said passageways being releasably sealingly coupled within said mixing chamber inlets; a normally closed check valve interposed between each passageway and the mixing chamber and including a valve member yieldingly biased counter the discharge of component material from the passageway and preventing drooling of component material from the passageway in the absence of component material pressure and preventing reverse flow of mixture from the mixing chamber into the passageway, said valve member yieldingly shiftable allowing component material to flow from the passageways into the mixing chamber upon application of component pressure by shifting the displacement plunger into the metering chamber; a shaft extending axially into said mixing chamber; a rotor mounted on said shaft; a prime mover mounted in axial alignment with said shaft when said mixing chamber is supported in operable position in the apparatus, and. having a resilient flexible driving member releasably coupled to the shaft to rotate said rotor.

4. In apparatus for metering in determined relative proportions a plurality of flowa-ble components and mixing together such components and dispensing determined quanta of the mixture: a closed metering chamber for each component, metering mechanism for metering each component cooperable with the chambers comprising posi- 19 tive displacement means linearly reciprocable in each chamber to discharge component therefrom during a stroke in one direction with the displacement means mechanically connected for conjoint uniform operation and a positive displacement fluid pressure motor including a cylinder and cooperating piston with the latter connected to the displacement means for shifting the same through distances directly corresponding to the shifting of the piston, control means coupled with said mechanism and operable to determine the distance of movement of said displacement means during said stroke and thereby meter the component discharged from each cylinder, a mixer having a closed mixing chamber with inlets at the lower end thereof coupled through a closed feed system with the metering chamber to receive metered component discharged therefrom and having an outlet for mixed material adjacent the upper end thereof such that the amount of mixed material dispensed from the mixer is equal to the total quantum of metered component discharged from the metering chambers and delivered through said mixer inlets, a mixing rotor in said mixing chamber having a shaft projecting sealingly through a wall of the chamber,

and a prime mover coupled to said shaft to rotate the rotor.

5. In apparatus for dispensing a mixture of flowable component materials, and including a source of each component materials selectively operable to deliver the component materials under pressure: a mixing chamber removably supported in said apparatus within which the component materials are to be mixed and having an inlet for each component material and an outlet for said mixture; a mixing rotor in said chamber having a rotor shaft extending axially out of the chamber; a prime mover releasably coupled to said rotor shaft to rotate the rotor upon operation of the prime mover; means defining a separate passageway for each component material with each passageway communicating at one end with a respective source of material and at the opposite end projecting removably sealing through a wall of said mixing chamber and opening substantially directly into said chamber when the chamber is supported in operable position in said apparatus; means releasably coupling the chamber to the passageway means; normally closed check valve means at the end of each passageway opening into the mixing chamber including a valve member yieldingly biased counter the discharge of material from the passageway outlet to prevent drooling of material from said outlet in the absence of component material pressure from said source and prevent reverse flow of mixture from the chamber into the passageway, said valve member yieldingly shiftable upon application of component material pressure thereagainst from said source to allow discharge of component material through the passageway into the mixing chamber.

20 6. Apparatus for metering and mixing a plurality of fiowa-ble component materials and dispensing the resultant mixture comprising, in combination: a source of each component material; an enclosed metering chamber for each component material having an inlet and an outlet,

with the inlet oommunicatively coupled to a respective source of material; valve means in flow controlling communication with each inlet and outlet; a displacement plunger extending into each metering chamber and linearly shiftable therein; a control system operatively coupled to each displacement plunger in each of said valve means and operable to shift the plungers into the chambers in response to the opening of the outlet and closing of the inlet, and alternately to shift the plungers out of the chambers in response to the closing of the outlet and opening of the inlet; a closed mixing chamber having an inlet for each component material and an outlet for said mixture; component material conducting passageways establishing closed circuit communication between the outlet of each metering chamber and the respective inlet to said mixing chamber; a normally closed check valve interposed between each passageway and the mixing chamber and including a valve member yieldingly biased counter the discharge of material from the passageway in the absence of component material pressure and preventing reverse fiow from the mixing chamber to the passageway, said valve member shiftable to allow component flow from the passageways into the mixing chamber in response to component material pressure from the shifting of the displacement plungers into their respective metering chambers; a mixing rotor in said mixing chamber; and a prime mover operably coupled to said rotor to rotate the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 735,281 Mitchell et a1 Aug. 4, 1903 1,934,623 Frick Nov. 7, 1933 2,621,838 Price Dec. 16, 1952 2,658,645 Harris Nov; 10, 1953 2,774,364 Krobel Dec. 18, 1956 2,796,194 Willis et al. June 18, 1957 2,832,641 Korda Apr. 29, 1958 2,848,139 Chiantelassa Aug. 19, 1958 2,850,990 Rasmusson Sept. 9, 1958 2,858,049 Young et al. Oct. 28, 1958 2,895,645 'Pelak July 21, 1959 2,898,002 Blanchet et al. Aug. 4, 1959 2,905,361 Noall Sept. 22, 1959 2,996,077 Taggert Aug. 15, 1961 3,006,505 Levin Aug. 31, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 160,131 Germany May 2, 1905 164,695 Austria Dec. 10, 1949 

6. APPARATUS FOR METERING AND MIXING A PLURALITY OF FLOWABLE COMPONENT MATERIALS AND DISPENSING THE RESULTANT MIXTURE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A SOURCE OF EACH COMPONENT MATERIAL; AN ENCLOSED METERING CHAMBER FOR EACH COMPONENT MATERIAL HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET, WITH THE INLET COMMUNICATIVELY COUPLED TO A RESPECTIVE SOURCE OF MATERIAL; VALVE MEANS IN FLOW CONTROLLING COMMUNICATION WITH EACH INLET AND OUTLET; A DISPLACEMENT PLUNGER EXTENDING INTO EACH METERING CHAMBER AND LINEARLY SHIFTABLE THEREIN; A CONTROL SYSTEM OPERATIVELY COUPLED TO EACH DISPLACEMENT PLUNGER IN EACH OF SAID VALVE MEANS AND OPERABLE TO SHIFT THE PLUNGERS INTO THE CHAMBERS IN RESPONSE TO THE OPENING OF THE OUTLET AND CLOSING OF THE INLET, AND ALTERNATELY TO SHIFT THE PLUNGERS OUT OF THE CHAMBERS IN RESPONSE TO THE CLOSING OF THE OUTLET AND OPENING OF THE INLET; A CLOSED MIXING CHAMBER HAVING AN INLET FOR EACH COMPONENT MATERIAL AND AN OUTLET FOR SAID MIXTURE; COMPONENT MATERIAL CONDUCTING PASSAGEWAYS ESTABLISHING CLOSED CIRCUIT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE OUTLET OF EACH METERING CHAMBER AND THE RESPECTIVE INLET TO SAID MIXING CHAMBER; A NORMALLY CLOSED CHECK VALVE INTERPOSED BETWEEN EACH PASSAGEWAY AND THE MIXING CHAMBER AND INCLUDING A VALVE MEMBER YIELDINGLY BIASED COUNTER THE DISCHARGE OF MATERIAL FROM THE PASSAGEWAY IN THE ABSENCE OF COMPONENT MATERIAL PRESSURE AND PREVENTING REVERSE FLOW FROM THE MIXING CHAMBER TO THE PASSAGEWAY, SAID VALVE MEMBER SHIFTABLE TO ALLOW COMPONENT FLOW FROM THE PASSAGEWAYS INTO THE MIXING CHAMBER IN RESPONSE TO COMPONENT MATERIAL PRESSURE FROM THE SHIFTING OF THE DISPLACEMENT PLUNGERS INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE METERING CHAMBERS; A MIXING ROTOR IN SAID MIXING CHAMBER; AND A PRIME MOVER OPERABLY COUPLED TO SAID ROTOR TO ROTATE THE SAME. 